Respirator package construction

ABSTRACT

A respirator package includes a container having a bottom half portion and a top half portion which is closeable over the bottom portion. A respirator pan is placed in the bottom portion over an interiorly projecting ridge which is defined around the circumference of the bottom thereof so as to hold the respirator pan or pot so that its walls are spaced upwardly from the bottom and inwardly from the side walls of the lower portion of the container. The top of the respirator projects upwardly above the lower portion of the container and a deformable material is placed on the top of the respirator in a recess provided therefore in a position so that it projects above the uppermost portion of the respirator.

1 51 Apr. 10, 1973 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS [54] RESPIRATOR PACKAGE 1 1939 Netherlands..

CONSTRUCTION [75] Inventor: Karl-August Wfichter, Lubeck, Germany Primary Examiner-Joseph R. Leclair Assignee: Driigerwerk Alttiengesellschaft, Lu-

Assistant Examiner-Stephen P. Garbe Att0rneyMcGlew and Toren beck, Germany May 14, 1970 [57] ABSCT A respirator package includes a container having a [22] Filed:

[21] Appl. No.: 37,239

bottom half portion and a top half portion which is Foreign Applicflfifln Priority Data closeable over the bottom portion. A respirator pan is May 20, 1969 Germany....................

P 9 25 6225 placed in the bottom portion over an interiorly projecting ridge which is defined around the circumference of the bottom thereof so as to hold the respirator pan or pot so that its walls are spaced upwardly from the bottom and inwardly from the side walls of the lower portion of the container. The top of mci Z FZM 3 6Ml 6 4 Id 65 2 0 ml 2 4 m an 6 M M 1 M MR 2 W2 "15 mmm MIR m m the respirator projects upwardly above the lower portion of the container and a deformable material is [56] References (med placed on the top of the respirator in a recess pro- UNITED STATES PATENTS vided therefore in a position so that it projects above the uppermost portion of the respirator.

2,486,711 11/1949 Harris ....206/46 FC 3,532,243 10/1970 Hart et a1. 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures RESPIRATOR PACKAGE CONSTRUCTIQN SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates in general to the respirator devices and in particular to a new and useful respirator package including a container having two interengageable parts which engage over a respirator enclosed therein and provides a sealing and holding action with a deformable material placed between one of the parts and the respirator.

At the present time, it is known to carry so-called standby respirator packages along with the person who is to be protected. Such packages serve as a protection against mechanical damages of the respirator such as by impact or shock and they also provide a protection against atmospheric influences. Thus it is known, for example, to keep respirators protected against carbon monoxide in a standby container and miners carrysuch containers along during their work. The standby container provides protection against rough treatment underground and also protects the respirator against possible penetration of moisture. It is known to produce an under pressure inside the container to provide a gas tight seal of such a container for respirators and such a gas tight seal is constantly maintained. It is also known to arrange soft elastic intermediate layers in the interval between an outer wall of the respirator and an inner wall of the standby container. This prevents a displacement of the respirator inside the container and also the intermediate layers protect the respirator against damage when the container is dented. The intermediate layers also provide a possibility for breathing into the respirator through its connecting piece if it should be impossible to remove the respirator from the standby container. In this case, the inhaling air can flow at the upper edge of the standby container in the space defined between the container and the respirator and between the intermediate layers of the cushioning material for flow into the inlet ports of the respirator. The intermediate layers 'of cushioning material are made of flexible resilient materials such as felt. With such an arrangement, however, there is always the risk that the intermediate layers will lose their supporting characteristics in the course of time so that accidental displacement of the respirator in the container is possible, especially when the container is subjected to an unusual jarring force. When such a container is dented, the intermediate layers are pressed so firmly against the respirator that the respirator cannot be removed. Breathing into a respirator that is still in its standby container is harmful because of the increased breathing resistance which takes place.

In the manufacture of respirators it is very difficult to hold the dimensional tolerances even in mass production so that there is generally a large variation of the outside dimensions of such respirators. In general, a respirator willcomprise at least two parts which are connected with each other after they have been filled.

The height of fill within one part (the filter pot part) cannotbe maintained exactly at a certain value, therefore a different length of the respirator will be obtained after the various parts are assembled. During the installation of such respirators into the standby containers therefore, there will be a danger that an interval between the respirators and the container will remain so that the respirators are not firmly secured within its container but will be able to move even though only to a minor extent. Even a slight movement leads to jarring of the respirator and possibly damage thereof.

The present invention provides a respirator package which does not use intermediate resilient layers which will render the removal of the container difficult or impossible, but means which provide for firmly securing the respirator unit within the container so that it is free of movement and will not be displaced even when the tions which extend around the circumference at the interior periphery of the bottom wall and which supports the pot and the respirator such that the interior walls of the container are spaced from the walls of the respirator at all locations except in those locations contacted by the support. The top cover portion is engaged with the bottom cover portion over a deformable material which is positioned between the top of the respirator and the top cover portion. The connection is such that the material is deformed so as to hold the respirator tightly within the container and to lock it in a fixed position without play. The material is advantageously a. material which will harden after it is initially compressed and interengaged between the respirator and the container top. The deformable material of course may be a resilient type material which does not necessarily harden after it is interengaged between the container top portion and the respirator. In .both arrangements, the material prevents not only a movement of the respirator in the direction of the deformable material, but also any lateral movement of the respirator or of the supports for the respirator in the bottom container portion. In the preferred form, the deformable material advantageously comprises a material which does remain elastic after hardening.

The making of the container parts such that the interior portions of the container parts are larger than the respirator body, the container is supported between projections defined on the lower part, and a deformable member is interposed between the respirator and the container top portion so that there is a firm holding of the respirator within the container in a position in which it is not subject to damage even when there is a denting of the container parts. In the condition where denting of the container is so great that the respirator cannot be removed from the container, with the construction of the invention it is still possible to breath into the respirator after removing the plate of the respirator which covers the mouth piece. The air can then flow through the intervals which remain between the mounting projections on the bottom portion of the container and the respirator body. For this purpose the projections are formed by elements which are interrupted to permit interflow in the wall spaces between the container and the respirator body, but if this security is not desired, the mounting projection on the bot tom wall of the container may be made of a single annular piece.

The invention also provides a method for the production of a respirator which is to be housed in a container. With the method of the invention after the respirator is placed into the container a hardenable material is ap plied to the upper end face of the respirator. Thereafter the top cover portion is applied over the bottom portion of the container and the hardenable material is put under pressure by the cover by an amount which is regulated by the spacing between the interior of the cover and the top of the respirator and by the amount of material which is placed therebetween. After the cover is placed in position and fully closed the material is permitted to harden or it is vulcanized. The inventive method and apparatus permits the exact selection of a retaining force for the vaporizer body with a selected vacuum lock, that is, with a closing force corresponding to the pressure difference between the interior and the exterior of the container.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved respirator package wherein a respirator body is held within a container by a deformable material interposed between the body and the cover portion of the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a respirator package which includes a lower portion having an interior projection providing a supporting base for a respirator for holding the respirator with its wall spaced from the interior walls of the bottom portion of the container, and including an upper portion engaged over the bottom portion and over a deformable material which is placed between the respirator body and the upper portion and which is compressed therebetween to form an exact centering and holding engagement of the body of the respirator within the container.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method of producing a respirator package which comprises inserting a respirator body into a package lower portion, applying a deformable material over the top of the respirator body in an amount so that it will project upwardly from the top of said body, placing a cover onto the bottom portion and engaging the cover with the intermediate material to compress the material between the cover and the body, and thereafter permitting the material to harden for holding the respirator in an exact position.

A further object of the invention is to provide a respirator package which is simple in design, rugged in construction, and economical to manufacture.

The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated and described preferred embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a respirator package constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the container in a closed position; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial sectional view indicating the interengagement of the top cover portion over a respirator in accordance with another embodiment of the invention.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings in particular, the invention embodied therein in FIGS. 1 and 2, comprises a respirator package generally designated 20 which includes a lower container portion of substantially cylindrical form which is closed by a top container portion 3 of complementary form.

In accordance with a feature of the invention a respirator generally designated 1 is arranged within the lower portion 2 and it includes a bottom body part or pot 7 which is located over a projection 5 which is defined around the circumference of a bottom wall 6. The bottom wall 6 may advantageously alsocontain a projection or support 24 which is centrally arranged. The projections 5 and 24 may be formed as a single piece with the projection 5 extending around an annular margin adjacent the bottom wall periphery or each may be made of separate portions of predetermined extent in order to define intermittent fiow passages therebetween. The projection means which are carried by the lower container portion 2 and which are indicated in the form of the projections 5 and 24 hold the respirator 1 such that there is an air gap 8 defined between the walls of the pot 7 and the interior wall of the lower portion 2 of the container. The spacing 8 is sufficiently large to permit the oxygen breathing filter of the respirator l to be removed and to permit operation of the respirator without any hinderance. This also permits use of the respirator even if the container parts are dented.

The respirator 1 includes a mouth piece housing or upper part 9 which forms a breathing filter and it is provided with a rubberized or similar elastic coating 10. The top of the respirator 1 at the location at the top of the mouth piece housing 9 is indented or provided with a depression 11 and a deformable material or plastic piece 13 is positioned on this indented portion. The top cover portion 3 is provided with an inwardly directed portion or projection 12 which is centered over the plastic piece 13, as indicated in the partially closed position shown in FIG. 1.

In accordance with the method of the invention after the plastic piece 13 is positioned between the top cover and the respirator 1 the cover 3 is moved downwardly to engage with and close against the bottom portion 2. This causes the plastic piece 13 to deform to the configuration indicated in FIG. 2 after the cover 3 is connected gas tight with the lower portion 2 of the container and the closing is effected. In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, the plastic piece 13 is such that after it deforms it maintains its deformed condition as indicated in FIG. 2 and hardens in this form to provide a firm holding and positioning action on the respirator 1 within the container. The plastic piece 13 advantageously engages in the recess in the top of the respirator and also over a shoulder portion 12' of the projection 12 of the cover 3. This ensures that the.

respirator body will not be displaced in any direction including laterally.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3, a respirator body 1 is held in a position within a container by a top cover 3' which is pressed down over a plastic piece 13' which is of a material which does not harden but which provides a resilient deformation and a firm interengagement of the respirator body 1' by the cover 3'. The material of the plastic piece 13' may, for example, be a rubber or a plastic material, such as a foam. In some instances, it is advisible to insert a layer of material 24 between the plastic piece 13' and the cover 3' and a layer of a material 26 between the plastic material 13' and the vaporizer body 1. Such layers 24 and 26 may comprise non-sticky materials or materials selected so that there is no sticking between the container cover or the respirator 1 after hardening or vulcanization of the plastic piece 13' in those instances when this piece is made of such a hardenable material. Layers 24 and 26 may for this purpose comprise foils of non-sticky materials such as paper, etc.

The arrangement according to the invention is particularly suitable for packing oxygen, breathing filters which are closed by producing a vacuum inside the oxygen breathing filter. The closing force thus produced is ensured by an exactly defined clamping force between the respirator and the container walls.

What is claimed is:

1. A respirator package comprising a container having a bottom portion and a top cover portion engageable with said bottom portion to close said container, a respirator positioned in said container, and a plastic piece arranged at the top of said respirator and compressed and deformed by the closing pressure of said cover to firmly position and hold said respirator within said container, said container cover including a projecting portion defined at the interior thereof centered over said plastic piece and having a cross section smaller than the cross section of said plastic piece.

2. A respirator package comprising a container having a bottom portion and a top cover portion engageable with said bottom portion to close said container, a respirator positioned in said container, and a plastic piece arranged at the top of said respirator and compressed and deformed by the closing pressure of said cover to firmly position and hold said respirator within said container, and an intermediate layer of a nonsticky material between said plastic piece and said cover.

3. A respirator package construction comprising, in combination, an elongated two part container having a lower container substantially pot-shaped part, an upper container substantially pot-shaped part, said container parts being engageable with each other in the closed state of said container, a respirator in said container, said container parts being defined by inner walls, projecting means formed integrally with and of the same material as said inner walls spacing and centering said respirator within said container in its closed state, and a member of compressible and hardenable plastic material aligned with said respirator and with at least a part of said projecting means which are located on said inner walls in the closed state of said container, the remaining projecting means engaging said respirator directly and maintaining said respirator in a fixed position in which said respirator remains unexposed to stress with respect to said inner walls of the container, said member being deformed in the closed state of the container thereby to condition said respirator to be free from shocks when the latter are directed toward said respirator from without said container.

4. A respirator package construction, according to claim 3, wherein said lower container portion has an inner bottom wall, said pro ecting means including an 

1. A respirator package comprising a container having a bottom portion and a top cover portion engageable with said bottom portion to close said container, a respirator positioned in said container, and a plastic piece arranged at the top of said respirator and compressed and deformed by the closing pressure of said cover to firmly position and hold said respirator within said container, said container cover including a projecting portion defined at the interior thereof centered over said plastic piece and having a cross section smaller than the cross section of said plastic piece.
 2. A respirator package comprising a container having a bottom portion and a top cover portion engageable with said bottom portion to close said container, a respirator positioned in said container, and a plastic piece arranged at the top of said respirator and compressed and deformed by the closing pressure of said cover to firmly position and hold said respirator within said container, and an intermediate layer of a non-sticky material between said plastic piece and said cover.
 3. A respirator package construction comprising, in combination, an elongated two part container having a lower container substantially pot-shaped part, an upper container substantially pot-shaped part, said container parts being engageable with each other in the closed state of said container, a respirator in said container, said container parts being defined by inner walls, projecting means formed integrally with and of the same material as said inner walls spacing and centering said respirator within said container in its closed state, and a member of compressible and hardenable plastic material aligned with said respirator and with at least a part of said projecting means which are located on said inner walls in the closed state of said container, the remaining projecting means engaging said respirator directly and maintaining said respirator in a fixed position in which said respirator remains unexposed to stress with respect to said inner walls of the container, said member being deformed in the closed state of the container thereby to condition said respirator to be free from shocks when the latter are directed toward said respirator from without said container.
 4. A respirator package construction, according to claim 3, wherein said lower container portion has an inner bottom wall, said projecting means including an integral, centrally located protuberant part of said bottom wall for supporting and spacing said respirator from said bottom, and offset parts on the inner side walls of said container portions for securing said respirator in position along said inner walls of the container. 